Trolley-reverser.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

P. H. BURNHAM.

TROLLBY REVERSER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1902.

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P. H. BURNHAM.

TROLLEY REVERSER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 10, 1902.

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PATENTE D MAR. 24, 1903.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

F. H. BURNHAM.

TROLLEY REVERSBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. BURNHAM, OF ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS.

TROLLEY REVERSER.

SPECIFIGATION forming part'of Letters Patent N 0. 723,360, dated March 24, 1903. Application filed March 10, 1902. Serial No. 97,626. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. BURNHAM,

with the overhead cross-wires, which sus-- pend or support the power-wires in the desired positions above the tops of electric power-driven cars as now in use; and a further object is to provide suitable means to take up the slack in the rope provided for operating the trolleyin removing or replacing the trolley in contact or against the powerwire when the car is in actual use. The

pitching or rocking motion of the car run-' ning varies the distance between the ends of the car and the overhead power-wires, and thereby varies the tension of the trolley-rope accordingly, which variation is provided for by means of a spring-controller attached to the trolley-rope near the upper end of the trolley-pole, as hereinafter more fully described; andit consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the spring actuating devices, as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

To the drawings hereto annexed, and which form a part of this specification, reference is made.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the case, showing an elevation of the spring actuating device to draw the trolley-rope downward to prevent the trolley-pole from attaining too great a height when the trolley leaves the overhead power-wires accidentally. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the case, taken at a right angle to the former section and showing the coiled spring, ropepulley, and devices connected therewith in elevation, as seen from the left hand of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a-similar section of the case at the right hand of Fig. 1, showing the spring-pawl and ratchet in elevation constructed to embody my invention. Fig. 4 representsasectional elevation showing a coiled spring trolley-rope controller suspended directly beneath the axle of the trolley-wheel to ashort arm secured to the upper end of the trolleypole and provided with opposite side pockets adapted to catch the drip of dirty water falling from the trolley-wheel in Wet weather and prevent the same from contact with the car, trolley-rope, or passengers. Fig. 5 is a view showing the application of the invention.

A represents a metal case provided with an axis B. One end of the axis or journal is extended through the case and adapted to be turned by a wrench, if desired. This axis B has permanently secured thereto one end of the flat coiled steel spring 0, the opposite end of which is secured to the horizontal projecting stud D, rigidly mounted to the side of the grooved trolley-rope pulley E, secured upon the axis B in any suitable manner. Now to the opposite side of the pulley E and secured to the axis or pulley is a ratchet F, and secured to a pivot H, projecting inward from the side of the case, is pivoted the end of the pawl G, providedwith a flat spring I, one end of which bears upon the curved pawl G, the opposite end being secured to the projection J, extending inwardly from the inside of the case, as shown. The upward end of the pawl G is provided with a vertical projection K, to which is pivoted a friction-pulley L, beneath'which the trolley-operating rope M has a bearing when in operation, as hereinafter stated.-

The above-described trolley-reverser is designed to be detachably connected to the rear end dasher of an electric car as now in common use. 7

Now it will be seen and understood that when the trolley-wheel accidentally leaves the overhead power-wire the upward movement of the said trolley-rope M, the lower end of which is secured to the grooved pulley E and extends upward beneath the frictionpulley L, provided at the upward end of the spring-pawl G, will raise the holding end of the said pawl from a tooth of the ratchet F, and thereby release the coiled spring 0, permitting the recoil of the same to revolve the ropepulley E and wind the operating-rope M thereon, and thus draw the trolley downward from the power-wire,-the coiled spring 0 being of sufficient power to overcome the power of the springs provided to hold the trolley-wheel up against the under side of the power-wire as now in use. Now in order to take up the slack or unequal tension of the trolley-rope when in use caused by such rocking or varying up-and-down end movements of the carbody upon the truck-frames as now in use I provide a trolley-rope controller consisting of a case N, provided with a rope-pulley O, mounted upon an axis P, journaled within the case and one side provided with a coiled spring B, one end of which is secured to a projecting stud S in the side of the ropepulley O and the inward opposite end also secured to the axis P, so that when the rear end 9f the car-body is moving up or down or has a rocking motion imparted thereto the slack in the trolley-rope is taken up or let out, so as to maintain the desired tension at all times by the action of the coiled spring R. Now in order to prevent any dirty water from the overhead power-wires passing down from the trolley-wheel upon thecar, trolley-rope, or passengers I provide the case of the trolleyrope controller on opposite sides with catch-receptacles S, provided with openings having movable shutters or doors T, through which sponge or cotton-waste absorbent U may be placed therein and removed when wet and dried or renewed when desired. This rope-controller is suspended directly beneath the axis of the trolley-wheel V by means of a projecting arm W, secured to the upward end of the trolley-pole X and short connecting-strap Y, as shown in Fig. 4. It is intended that the trolley-rope should be of the proper length to extend in its normal position from the upper to the lower device.

It will be seen and understood that the steel springO is coiled up by pulling upward rope M.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a trolley-reverser,

of a trolley-rope controller consisting of an inclosed case having a coiled spring having one end secured to a stud and the opposite end secured to the journal upon which is secured a rope-pulley, and the exterior of. the case provided with pockets adapted to catch the dripping water from the trolley; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a trolley-pulley, of a case supported therefrom in line with the axis of the trolley and formed with pockets to catch the drippings from the trolley, and a rope-pulley mounted within said case and a spring having one end secured to said pulley and its other end to the axis thereof, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a trolley-pulley having a laterally-projecting arm at its upper end, of a trolley-rope controller supported from the outer end of said arm and having pockets to catch the dripping from the trolley, substantially as described.

4. In a trolley-reverser, the combination with a trolleyrope controller suspended from the trolley-pole, and having a spring-actuated pulley, of a trolley-reverser adapted to be attached to the car and having a spring-actuated pulley and spring controlling mechanism connected with the trolley-rope as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a trolley-reverser, the combination with a trolley-rope controller suspended from the trolley-pole, and having a spring-actuated pulley, of a trolley-reverser adapted to be attached to the car and having a spring-actuated pulley and spring controlling mechanism connected with the trolley-rope, said trolleyrope being Wound in opposite directions upon the pulley of the reverser and of the controller.

6. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a take-up device connected with one end of the trolley-rope and the winding device connected with the other end of said rope.

FRANCIS H. BURNI-IAM.

Witnesses:

SYLVENUS WALKER, CHAS. P. CLEMENT. 

